Divider



June 6, 1933. E a WESTON 1,912,505

DIVIDER Filed D60. 19, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

E. B. WESTON June 6, 1933-.

DIVIDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1931 INVENTOR. [om/e0 B. W5r0/vATTORN Y.

Patented June 6, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD B. WESTON, OFDAYTON, OHIO; WELLZMORE B. TURNER AND W. G. CLARK EXECU'IORS OE SAIDEDWARD B. VJESTON, DECEASED DIVIDER Application filed December 19, 1931.

The present invention relates to dividing arrangements, and itparticularly relatesto dividers to be utilized in connection with bins,buckets, containers and other storage receptacles.

Among the objects of our present invention are to provide a divider "forutilization with bins, buckets, containers or other storage receptaclesfor dividin said receptacles into a plurality of compartments, whichdivider may be readily made of inexpensive materials, as for examplesheet metal stampings, and offew parts, the constituent elements ofwhich may be easily puttogether to form a permanent assembly, and whichmay be subsequently dismantled without injury or destruction, andwithout the need of special tools or instruments, by the ordinary laymanor Storekeeper. V

A particular object is to provide a divider of the character describedwhich will retain its shape upon handling either before insertion intothe bin, container or receptacle or after removal therefrom, and alsowhen in position whether or not the particular'bin or receptacle intowhich it is placed be empty or wholly or partly filled.

In one form of the invention, the divider is formed by fitting orintermeshing together a plurality of sheet members, which may consist ofany stiff material, such as corrugated paper or sheet metal. Thesesheets are provided with cooperating incisions, slits or slots whichenable them to be fitted together. One end of the combined sheet may beprovided with notches or with recesses at the intersection to enable alocking device to be conveniently associated therewith for rigidlyholding the sheets in predetermined relation to each other. 1

The locking device may also be formed of sheet metal or of another sheetmaterial and is preferably provided with slots, notches, or recesses,which fit over and around the adjacent edges of the crossing dividingmembers and thus hold them in position. In one form an adjacent portionof the sheet members is preferably slit or undercut in such a mannerthat a tongue is formed which may Serial No. 582,118.

be readily bent to hold the locking device permanently in position.

In the drawings, in which are shown several of the many possible formsof the present invention;

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1being a top perspective view showing the dividing arrangement inposition within a cylindrical container, Fig. 2 being a top view showingthe divider removed trom said container, and Fig. 3 being views of theconstituent elements before assembly.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment, Fig. i being a topperspective view of the assembled divider, and Fig. 5 being a similarperspective view of the locking means.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate still another embodiment, Fig. 6 being a topperspective view of the assembled divider and Fig. 7 being views of theconstituent elements before assembly.

In Fig. 1 the container 10 is shown 'of cylindrical shape and is of thetype which may be conveniently associated with a display stand. such asdescribed and shown in my Patent 1,724,385, dated August 13, 1929. It isobvious, however, that the container might be made of conical,pyramidal, prismatic or other shapes.

The divider in this embodiment has two sheet members or plates 11 and 12crossing each other at right angles, to divide the interi-or of thecontainer 10 into four sub-compartments or sub-receptacles of about thesame volumetric content. It is understood, however, that the number andarrangement of the sheets 11 and 12 may be modified to divide thecontainer into a diiterent number of compartments of the same or ofdifferent volumetric content.

The constituent plates 11 and 12 of the divider, which are shown removedfrom the container 10 in Fig. 2- and disassembled in Fig. 3, areprovided with cooperating slots 13 and 14. The slot 14 extendsdownwardly from the top of the plate 12 and the slot 18 exten lsupwardly from the bottom of the plate 11. It will be noted that the sideedges 15 and 16 of the plates 11 and 12 are tapered slightly toward thebottom of the plates to conform to a similarly tapered interior contourof the container 10.

The slots 13 and 14 are so arranged and constructed in respect to theplates 11 and 12 that the unslotted portion 18 of the plate 11 will fitint-o the slot 14 to its full height, while the unslotted portion 19will fit into the slotted portion 13 to its full height. As a result theintermeshed assembly of the plates 11 and 12 will have the same heightas either plate individually.

As shown, both of the plates 11 and 12 are of the same height andcontour, being particularly adapted to the interior contour of thecontainer 10, and both slots 13 and 14 are along the center line of theplates 11 and 12 respectively If desired, however, depending upon theshape of the container 10 and governed by the character of thesub-comiartments to be obtained. the contour of the plates 11 and 12 maydifier from each other and the slots 13 and 14 may be placed at otherpositions than along the center lines.

The upper edges of the plates 11 and 12 are respectively provided withthe recesses or notches and 21 to receive the locking member 22.

The locking member 22 may take the form of a Maltese cross which in thisinstance is formed from a small square of sheet metal, the corners ofwhich are beveled at 23, and which is provided with diagonal slots 24extending inwardly from said beveled corners 23 and stopping short ofthe center of the square.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the unslotted portion of the locking plate 22between the inner ends of the slots 24 fits into and rests upon thebottom edges of the recesses 20 and 21, the slots 24 fitting over andextending along the unrecessed portions of the upper edges 25 and 26 ofthe plates 11 and 12, respectively, adjacent said recesses.

In case there is insufficient frictional contact or jamming to hold thelocking device 22 permanently in position, the recess on that plate,which is slotted on its upper side and might drop out of the assembly,may be provided with deformable holding means. As shown the recess 21 onthe plate 12 is provided with undercuts or incisions 27. eakened ends ortongues 28, thus formed, may be readily bent out as shown in Figs. 1 and2. This will lock the plates 11 and 12 and the device 32 together,assuring a permanent assembly of the elements with the plates 11 and 12at right angles to each other.

In dismantling the tongues 28 may be bent s back to their originalposition, the locking device 22 may be lifted out of position and theplates 11 and 12 may be removed from each other. The assembly may againbe completed by intermeshing the plates 11 and 12 placing the lockingdevice 22 in position and then bending over the tongues 28 to form apermanent assembly.

The divider of Figs. 4 and 5 is generally similar to that of Figs. 1 to3 (similarly functioning parts being designated by the same numeralsprim-ed) In this arrangement, however, the locking device 30, which mayalso be formed of sheet metal, and which is shown in the assembly inFig. 4 and removed from the assembly in Fig. 5, has two outwardlyextending flanges 31 and 32 and a central channel portion or ridge 33.The flanges 31 and 32 are provided with slots 34 and 35 which extend tothe base of the channel or ridge 33. The inside of the channel or ridge33 fits over the upper edge 25 of the plate 11 and the slots 35 fit overand extend along the upper portions 26 of the plate 12'. The portion ofthe upper edge 26 adjacent the intersection of the plates 11 and 12 maybe undercut to form holding tongues 28 similar to those shown in Figs. 1to 3. I In the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5, the recesses 20 and 21 ofthe embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 may be omitted. The upper portion of theslot 14, however, is slightly widened to receive a triple thickness ofmetal, instead of a single thickness, said triple thickness being formedby the sides of the channel 33 of the locking device 30 and the top orupper edge 25 of the plate 11, which top or upper edge is unrecessed inthis embodiment.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown a similar arrangement differing from theembodiments of Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 4 and 5 principally in the mannerof locking the crossing plates in position (similarly functioning partsbeing designated by the same numerals double primed).

In this embodiment the central portions of the upper edges 25 and 26 areprovided with recesses 20 and 21" of somewhat greater depth than in theembodiment of Figs. 1 to 3.

The locking device 22 in this embodiment is provided on one axis withtwo slots 24" and along the other axis at right angles thereto with aridge or channel projection 33". In the assembly, the slots 24 fit overand extend along the upper edges of the bottom of the recess 20", andthe channel 33 fits over the upper edge of the bottom of the recess 21".The locking device may also be turned about 90, so that the channel 33will fit over the upper edge of the bottom of recess 20".

The upper end of the slot 14 is preferably enlarged at 50, as in Figs. 4and 5, to receive a triple thickness of metal formed by the channel 33fitting over the plate 11. Similarly to accommodate the locking devicewhen it turned about 90, as described above, the plate 11 may beprovided with the notch 51 at the bottom of the recess 20".

It will be evident from the foregoing that the divider ofthe presentinvention-unity be shown and described along the lines of the presentinvention, and 1t 1s therefore intended that theinvention should only berestricted by the scope of the appended claims which include all suchmodifications, alterations or changes. v

lVhat is claimed is l. A divider consisting of a plurality of crossingplates fitted into each other by cooperating slots extendingrespectively from their upper and loweredges, and a locking deviceconnected with the crossing edges of said plates at the top of theintersection, said device being provided with means to fit over and locksaid plates in position, the locking device taking the form of a Maltesecross and being formed of a small rectangular plate, the corners ofwhich are beveled and the slots of which extend inwardly along thediagonals from each of said corners toward and. stop short of the centerthereof.

, QJA divider consisting of a pluralityof crossing plates fitted intoeach other by cooperating slots extending respectively from their upperand lower edges, and a locking device connected with the crossing edgesof said plates at the top of the intersection, said device beingprovided with, means to fit over and lock said plates in position, thelocking device consists of a small plate, the central portion of whichis raised to form a channel or embossed portion, with outwardlyextendflanges on either side of said raised portion, which flanges aretransversely slotted, said slots fitting over one plate and said channelfitting over the other plate in assembled position.

i 3. A dividing arrangement, to be utilizec in connection with. acylindrical receptacle, comprising two sheet metal plates or staniplogs,the contours of which correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontainer, said plates being provided with axial slots respectively fromthe top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of which slotsis about equal to the height of one of said plates, and at least one ofsaidplates being also provided with a notch or recess'in the uppercentral portion of the edge thereof, and locking device consisting of asmall piece of sheet metal fitted into said notch or recess to rest atright anglesto said plates and formed with slots to fit over and extendalong the upper edges of said crossing plates.

piece of sheet metal fitted in said notch or recess formed with slotsfitting over and exsaid device. 7

and the slots of which extend inwardly along 4. Adividing arrangement,to be utilized in connection with a cylindrical receptacle, comprisingtwo sheet metal plates or stampings, the contours of which correspond toin-. ternal axial sections of said contour, said plates. being providedwith axial slots respectively from the top and from the bottom thereof,the combined height of which slots is about equal to the-height of oneof said plates, and at least one of said plates being also provided witha notch or recess in the upper central portion of the edge thereof, anda locking device consisting of a small 'so tending along the upper edgesof said crossing'plates. one of said plates being undercut on sides ofsaid notch or recess to form deformable tongues to be bent backwardlyover 5. The arrangement of claim 4 in which the lockin member consistinof a sheet metal stamping having the shape of a Maltese cross, thecorners of which are beveled diagonals from each of said corners towardand step short of the center of the stamping. 6. A dividing arrangement,to be utilized in connectioncwith a cylindrical receptacle comprisingtwo sheet metal plates or stampings, the contours of which correspond tointernal axial sections of said contour, said plates being provided withaxial slots respectively from the top and from the bottom thereof, thecombined height of which slots is about equal to the height of one ofsaid plates, and at least one of said plates being also provided with anotch or recess in the upper central portion of the edge thereof, and alocking device consisting of a small piece of sheet metal fitted in saidnotch or recess formed with slots fitting over and extending along theupper edges of said crossing-plates, oneof said plates being undercut onsides of said notch or recess to form de- 1 formable tongues to be bentbaclm'ardly over said device, the locking member being formed of asheetfmetal stamping, the central portion of which is raised to form achannel or embossed portion with outwardly extending flanges on eitherside of said raised portion, which flanges are slotted transversely,said slots fitting over one stamping and said channel fittingovcr theother stamping in assembled position.

7 A dividing arrangement, to be utilized in connection with. acylindrical receptacle comprising-two sheet metal plates or stampings,the contours ofwh'ich correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontour, said plates being-provided with axial slots respectivelyfrom'the top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of whichslots is about equalto the height of one "of said plates,and at leastone of saidLplates being ibo its

also provided with a notch or recess in the upper central portion of theedge thereof, and a locking device consisting of a small piece of sheetmetal fitted in said notch or recess formed with slots fitting over andex tending along the upper edges of said crossing plates, one of saidplates being undercut on sides of said notch or recess to formdeformable tongues to be bent backwardly over said device, both of saidplates or stampings being centrally provided at their upper edges withrecesses of about the same depth and width and the locking device havinga central unslotted portion enclosed within said recesses and outerslotted portions outside of said recesses.

8. A dividing arrangement, to be utilized in connection with acylindrical receptacle comprising two sheet metal plates or stampings,the contours of which correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontour, said plates being provided with axial slots respectively fromthe top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of which slotsis about equal to the height of one of said plates, and at least one ofsaid plates being also provided with a notch or recess in the uppercentral portion of the edge thereof, and a locking device consisting ofa small piece of sheet metal fitted in said notch or recess formed withslots fitting over and extending along the upper edges of said crossingplates, one of said plates being undercut on sides of said notch orrecess to form deformable tongues to be bent backwardly over saiddevice, only one of the plates or stampings being provided with a notchat its upper edge and said notch being formed by enlarging the upperportion of the downwardly extending slot.

9. A dividing arrangement, to be utilized in connection with acylindrical receptacle comprising two sheet metal plates or stampings,the contours of which correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontour, said plates being provided with axial slots respectively fromthe top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of which slotsis aboutequal to the height of one of said plates, and at least one ofsaid plates being also provided with a notch or recess in the uppercentral portion of the edge thereof, and a locking device consisting ofa small piece of sheet metal fitted in said notch or recess formed withslots fitting over and extending along the upper edges of said crossingplates, one of said plates being undercut on sides of said notch orrecess to form deformable tongues to be bent backwardly over saiddevice, both of the plates or stampings at their upper edges beingcentrally provided with recesses of the same depth and width and one ofsaid plates being provided with a central notch extending downwardlyfrom the bottom of one of said recesses.

10. A dividing arrangement, to be utilized in connection with acylindrical receptacle comprising two sheet metal plates or stampings,the contours of which correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontour, said plates being provided with axial slots respectively fromthe top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of which slotsis about equal to the height of one of said plates, and at least one ofsaid plates being also provided with a notch or recess in the uppercentral portion of the edge thereof, and a locking device consisting ofa small piece of sheet metal fitted in said notch or recess formed withslots fitting over and extending along the upper edges of said crossingplates, one of said plates being undercut on sides of said notch orrecess to form deformable tongues to be bent backwardly over saiddevice, both of the plates or stampings at their upper edges beingcentrally provided with recesses of the same depth and width and theplate with the downwardly extending slot being also provided with acentral notch extending downwardly from the bottom of the correspondingrecess and formed by enlargement of the upper part of said slot.

11. A diving arrangement, to be utilized in connection with acylindrical receptacle comprising two sheet metal plates or stampings,the contours of which correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontour, said plates being provided with axial slots respectively fromthe top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of which slotsis about equal to the height of one of said plates, and at least one ofsaid plates being also provided with a notch or recess in the uppercentral portion of the edge thereof, and a locking device consisting ofa small piece of sheet metal fitted in said notch or recess formed withslots fitting over and extending along the upper edges of said crossingplates, one of said plates being undercut on sides of said notch orrecess to form deformable tongues to be bent backwardly over saiddevice, both of the plates or stampings at their upper edges beingcentrally provided with recesses of the same depth and width and beingalso provided with central notches extending downwardly from the bottomsof said recesses.

12. A dividing arrangement, to be utilized in connection with acylindrical receptacle comprising two sheet metal plates or stampings,the contours of which correspond to internal axial sections of saidcontour, said plates being provided with axial slots respectively fromthe top and from the bottom thereof, the combined height of which slotsis about equal to the height of one of said plates, and at least one ofsaid plates being also provided with a notch or recess in the uppercentral portion of the edge thereof, and a locking device consisting ofa small piece of sheet metal fitted in said notch or recess formed Withslots fitting over and extending along the upper edges of said crossingplates, one of said plates being undercut on sides of said notch orrecess to form deformable tongues to be bent backwardly over saiddevice, said undercut being formed by extension of the bottom edge ofsaid notch or recess toward the outer side edges of the plates.

Signed at Dayton in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio this 15thday of December A. D. 1931.

EDWARD B. WESTON.

